Metal awning



Jan. 16, 1962 w. F. FATULA 3,016,584

METAL AWNING Filed Feb. 4, 195'? 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. FATULA.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 w. F. FATULA 3,016,584

METAL AWNING Filed Feb. 4, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. FAT JJLA.

BY M wnazad ATTOR N EYS Jan. 16, 1962 w. F. FATULA 3,01

METAL AWNING Filed Feb. 4, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. FATULA.

AT TOR N EYS United States Patent 3,016,584 METAL AWNING William F. Fatula, Dorseyville, Pa., assignor to Kool Vent Metal Awning Corporation of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 638,120 Claims. (Cl. 2057.5)

This invention is for a metal awning, and more particularly a metal awning having the main portion of the roof comprised principally of horizontally extending metal strips in stepped relation.

Metal awnings having ventilated roof areas for the escape of entrapped warm air are commonly formed with pan and cover elements extending down the slope of the roof. These awnings may be provided with end curtains having vertical louvres that are compatible in appearance. Also these awnings may be made in any length. Metal awnings having the main roof area formed of horizontal strips or louvres are also common. However architecturally end curtains do not fit well with these awnings. Moreover the length of such an awning is limited to the practical length of the horizontal strips.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a metal awning in which vertical louvres are combined with horizontal ones to enable end curtains to be used to better architectural advantage and provide a unique appearance as Well as better mechanical features.

over the roof area of the awning externally visible screws or fastenings.

These and other objects and advantages are secured by my invention, which may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning embodying .my invention, parts being broken away to show the construction;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section in the plane of line II--II of FIG. 1, the clips being omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the section shown in FIG. 2 on a larger scale, and showing the rafter in longitudinal section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the braces;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the subassembly at one end of the awning showing the manner in which one of the braces shown in FIG. 4 is used with a vertical louvre to carry off Water and close the space between the horizontal louvre and vertical louvre;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the use of a vertical louvre between two ends of the roof, il-

lustrating how the awning may be made in long lengths;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section through the vertical louvre and brace assembly used in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse section similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of horizontal louvre.

Referring to the drawings, it may be explained that all metal sections are designed to be roll-formed from sheet aluminum, and I have here shown a structure that can be made for the most part from sections now widely used in KoolVent vertical louvre awnings.

In the drawings, and with reference first to FIG. 1,

' the awning has a main sloping roof area 2 formed of hori Patented Jan. 16, 1962 zontally extending stepped louvres designated 3. There is a vertical pan or louvre 4 at each end. There is an end curtain 5 at each end of the awning, this awning being formed of a series of plates that angle outwardly from the end plane of the awning and toward the wall, as disclosed in Houseman Reissue Patent No. 20,975, these end plates having sloped upper portion 6 that terminate under the downturned flange 7 on the end pans 4. In FIG. 1, I have shown but one of the end curtains, but a similar one is provided at the opposite end, FIG. 1 at such opposite end showing the saw-tooth to which the curtain forming plates are attached.

The frame of the awning is provided by two main angle sections or rafters 8, one at each end of the awning, and which slope at the angle of the roof of the awning. A horizontal brace 9 is joined to the projecting end of the rafter and extends back to the plane of the building wall. It has an outwardly turned flange which is cut into a step-like formation 10 providing the so-called saw-tooth to which the end curtain plates are attached.

There are lesser rafters or braces 11 parallel with the main rafters 8 at intervals between the main rafters. The main rafter has a bracket or jumper plate 12 secured to its horizontal flange near its outer end, and a horizontal beam 13 is bolted to these jumpers so as to provide a rigid cross-connection between the two end rafters. The lesser rafters or braces 11 cross over this beam 13 and are attached thereto by brackets 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

A wall engaging section 16 (see FIG. 2) extends under the upper ends of the braces 11.

The two end louvres 4 are of the section shown in FIG. 5. Along the outer edge it has a narrow down-turned flange '7. At the opposite edge is a downwardly-extending flange 18, that then turns horizontally, providing a flat sloping surface 19, the free edge of which is turned upwardly at 20. The surface 19 thus forms a gutter or trough along the inner edge of each strip 4..

The lesser rafters or braces 11 have the shape shown in FIG. 4. It is of generally U-shaped form with a bottom 21, curved sides 22., with an outwardly-turned flange 23 at the top of each of the sides. At the free edge of each of these sides there is a down-turned lip 24 of the same vertical height as the flange 20 above described.

One of these lesser braces is placed alongside of each of the end plates 4 with one of the outwardly-turned flanges 23 overlapping the trough surface 19 and the downturned lip engaging the surface 19. Flange 20 fits under the flange 23 against the top of one of the side portions 22 of the brace. One or more of these lesser rafters 11 are provided intermediate the end ones. Holes 24' in flanges 23 enable the braces to be bolted to the end members.

The main area of the awning roof is comprised of a series of horizontal louvres or plates 3. Each plate 3 has an upwardly-turned flange 25 at its upper edge, with a forwardly-turned lip 26 at the top. Each of these plates has a downwardly-turned flange 27 at its lower edge with a rearwardly-turned lip 28. The lower edge of each louvre or plate 3 overlaps the upper edge of the next one down the slope.

The lesser braces or rafters 8 have elongated openings 24a therein at regular intervals corresponding to the position of the overlapping edges of the horizontal louvres 3. Clips having a post 29 (see FIG. 3) with a base 30 that hooks under the flange of the rafter and an undercut top portion 31 are engaged in the openings 24a. The outer end of the top of each clip fits against the downwardly-turned flange 27 of a louvre 3 and over the lip 28, while the upwardly-turned flange of the next pan is confined against the post 29 and in the undercut portion of the clip. The clip is generally similar to that shown in Helt Patent No. 2,685,715, granted August 10, 1954.

It serves to anchor the overlapping portion of the two louvres to the frame while holding them in spaced relation for ventilation and admission of diffused light. The overlapping arrangement with the reversely-turned lips traps any wind-driven rain. There is usually a single row of clips down each of the lesser rafters, one at each area of overlap.

The louvres 3 in smaller awnings are generally of a length to fit between the side plates 4 and butt against the flanges 18, the stepped arrangement bringing the lower edge of the flat portion 3 of each louvre flush with the top plane of the members 4. The ends of louvres 3 thus terminate over the troughs or channel surfaces 19 so that neither sunlight nor rain will come through the awning at the ends of the louvres 3.

At the upper edge of the awning roof there is a flashing strip or wall strip having a vertical flange 33 to engage a building wall and a sloped flange 34 to provide a finished appearance and water shed, this flashing strip being bolted to the top of the two side pans 4. There is a special starter strip or pan 35 (see FIG. 2) that overlaps the first regular louvre 3 and laps under and is secured by sheet metal screws (not shown) to the part 34 of the flashing.

At the bottom edge of the main area of the roof there is a valance strip 36 having a top portion 37 which forms the extreme lower part of the roof slope. It has an upstanding flange 38 therein with a lip 39 so as to be engaged and held the same as the louvres 3, the lowermost one of which overlaps it. This valance strip is customarily formed with a horizontal channel 40 in its front face for ornamentation and rigidity, and there may be braces 41 secured to it and the lesser rafters. The outer ends of the end pans 4 are bent down as indicated at 4 at each of the valances, and as shown in FIG. 6, the ends of the valance member are flanged at 42 to butt against and be secured to the side of the downturned end portion.

The same frame construction is employed where the awning is longer than the maximum length of the strips or louvres 3, or where shorter louvres are used to give special ornamental effects, but in this case the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is employed. In addition to the end pans 4 there are one or more intermediate pans 4-5. This pan has downturned sides 46 at each edge. These sides (see FIG. 7) each have a laterally-extending flange 47 with an upturned lip 48, the flange and lip forming a drainage channel or gutter similar to that provided at 19 (FIG. on the end assemblies. One of the lesser braces or rafters 11 is placed along each side of this pan with one of its top flanges 23 lapping over the flange 47. The horizontal louvres 3 have their inner ends abutting against the sides of the pan 45 the same as they abut at their other ends against the end pans 4. Clips such as shown in FIG. 3 of course are used on these lesser braces to'secure the horizontal louvres 3 in position. The center or intermediate pan 45 has its outer end turned down, as shown at 45a in FIG. 6, and the valance panels butt against it.

With this construction long awnings, such as those used on commercial buildings, or summer hotel porches or the like can be made up in any desired length, and the intermediate pans 45 at intervals relieve the monotony of a single long expanse and enable the louvres 3 to be of a convenient length.

In FIG. 8 the horizontal louvres, corresponding to 3 in FIG. 1, and here designated 50, are of slightly modified form in which there is a sloped intermediate area with an angularly offset flat part 51 at the top edge, there being an upturned flange '52 thereon with a forwardly-turned lip 53. The lower edge of the pan has an angularly offset flat part 54 with a downturned flange 55 and a rearwardly turned lip 56. A metal lug 59 punched up from the brace 11 abuts against the shoulder 58 of the louvre to positively lock the louvre in place.

This form of strip gives each pan a flat bearing on the rafter at its upper edge and allows the clip 57 to be perpendicular to the rafter, instead of at an angle to the perpendicular as in FIG. 3, allowing a maker of awnings to use one form of clip on either a horizontal or vertical louvre awning.

The awning as herein described may be constructed from easily formed parts. It is of unique appearance, provides horizontal louvres in a metal awning where architectural considerations or personal taste make horizontal roof louvres preferable to ones running up and down the roof slope, but the vertical end members 4 add pleasing contrast and make harmonious in appearance the use of the end curtains with angled louvres and also provide the rain and sun-excluding construction between the end curtains and the main roof area of the awning. It can be assembled with attractively contrasting colors with the same facility as the ones having vertical louvres, and combines ventilation with weather protection. To a large extent, the framing members are the same for both vertically sloped louvre awnings and the present one.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the form of the metal sections and otherwise within the contemplation of my invention.

I claim:

1. An awning having a sloping roof comprised of roof panels extending up and down the slope of the roof at each end of the roof, the end panels being in the form of inverted panels with a shallow upwardly-opening gutter-like flange extending along the inner edge thereof throughout the slope of the roof, louvres extending crosswise of the roof with the lower edge of each louvre overlapping the upper edge of the next-adjacent lower louvre and an upper edge of the next-adjacent louvre above it, said louvres having their ends terminating at the end panels with the end portions thereof overhanging the gutter-like flanges of said end panels, and means inwardly of the gutters and parallel therewith extending down the slope of the roof under the louvres and concealed from above the roof to which the louvres are anchored and retained in said overlapping relation.

2. An awning characterized by having a sloping roof with roof panels extending up and down the slope of the roof at each end and the main area of the roof being comprised of horizontally-extending overlapping stepped louvres, the end panels being in the form of inverted channels with a shallow upwardly-open gutter-like flange extending along the inner edge thereof throughout the slope of the roof, the ends of the horizontally-extending louvres projecting over said gutter-like flanges, main rafter members positioned under each of said end panels on which the end panels are supported, and a plurality of lesser roof rafters extending down the slope of the roof under the horizontally-extending louvres inwardly of the gutters of said end panels to which the horizontally-extending louvres are secured.

3. An awning as defined in claim 2 in which the lesser rafters are of trough-like section with a lateral flange at the top of each edge thereof, one of said lesser rafters being positioned alongside each end panel and having one of its lateral flanges overlapping the gutter-like flange of the end panel.

4. An awning as defined in claim 1 in which there is an intermediate one piece panel of inverted channel form extending vertically down the slope of the roof intermediate the two end panels and which has a shallow upwardly opening gutter-forming flange along both its downwardly turned sides, the horizontal louvres having an end overlapping the gutter-forming portions of the intermediate panel and being also separate from the intermediate panel.

5. An awning as defined in claim 4 in which the lower ends of the end and intermediate panels are turned vertically downward, and valance-forming panels are butted against the said downwardly-turned ends and secured thereto, said valance-forming panels spanning the distance between such downwardly-turned ends of the end and 2,677,158 Mayer May 4, 1954 intermediate panels. 2,680,886 Urban June 15, 1954 2,724,875 McKinley Nov. 29, 1955 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,7 53,604 Etten July 10, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,797,451 Br n J ly 9 7 Jones p Vetere y 2,577,482 Ray D 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,666,237 Bertram 19, 1954 753,077 Great Britain July 18, 1956 

